14
1
ferent social constructions that impact on how the reality is presented in politics,
bureaucracies, media, the public at large, and even in science. However, all these
constructions are not seen as being equally important or correct. Instead, claims
about reality become the subject of empirical investigations. In other words, ‘reality
checks’ are carried out. An example of such a reality check that we discuss in this
book is the idea of ‘desertification’ in the Sahel. Another example is
investigation into whether the rhetoric about participation in conservation actually
provides a good description of people’s opportunities to influence decision-making
in specific cases.
As critical realists or soft constructionists within political ecology, we study how
social and environmental practices are characterized by powerful actors, but in
addition, we are interested in distinguishing true from false in debates about environmental change. The ideas that powerful actors hold about environmental change
may for instance be compared with the empirical investigations of this change.
Some researchers with a scientific foundation in realism often tend to present
their research as neutral and objective, although a closer look may reveal how their
presentations are based on specific values. Obviously, political ecologists, as
researchers in general need to be self-reflective about their own knowledge production and how it may be influenced by specific values or believes. The double position of a critical realist does not provide any guarantee that the research is
independent, but it provides a position from which to critically examine how specific believes and views may influence the research.
Social constructions are often studied in terms of discourses and narratives. As
the basic definitions, we see discourses as ways of viewing specific topics, while narratives are stories about particular cases. In 7 Chap. 3 we outline a broader conceptual framework on discourses and narratives, and in this and later chapters we
present examples of such social constructions and compare them with findings
from our own studies of various environmental topics.
Imagine that a research team of political ecologists arrives on Pandora along
with Jake Sully. Political ecology does
not contain a complete recipe on how
a study should be carried out.
Nevertheless, we would imagine that
the first thing political ecologists
would tend to do, would be to examine
the social constructions created by the
different groups of actors. It would be
crucial to reveal the discourse adhered
to by powerful actors such as the leaders of the colony. Thereafter, it would
be useful to investigate the discourse
of the Na’vi, as well as that of the
members of the research team led by
Grace Augustine. Furthermore, we can
imagine that political ecologists would
attempt to examine the species and
ecology on Pandora, the way of living
and livelihoods of the Na’vi, and the
consequences that the human colonization might have on the Na’vi and
their environment. Thus, such a study
would be anchored in both constructivist and realist elements.
Imagine Realism and Social Constructivism on Pandora
Chapter 1 · Political Ecology on Pandora
1
ferent social constructions that impact on how the reality is presented in politics,
bureaucracies, media, the public at large, and even in science. However, all these
constructions are not seen as being equally important or correct. Instead, claims
about reality become the subject of empirical investigations. In other words, ‘reality
checks’ are carried out. An example of such a reality check that we discuss in this
book is the idea of ‘desertification’ in the Sahel. Another example is
investigation into whether the rhetoric about participation in conservation actually
provides a good description of people’s opportunities to influence decision-making
in specific cases.
As critical realists or soft constructionists within political ecology, we study how
social and environmental practices are characterized by powerful actors, but in
addition, we are interested in distinguishing true from false in debates about environmental change. The ideas that powerful actors hold about environmental change
may for instance be compared with the empirical investigations of this change.
Some researchers with a scientific foundation in realism often tend to present
their research as neutral and objective, although a closer look may reveal how their
presentations are based on specific values. Obviously, political ecologists, as
researchers in general need to be self-reflective about their own knowledge production and how it may be influenced by specific values or believes. The double position of a critical realist does not provide any guarantee that the research is
independent, but it provides a position from which to critically examine how specific believes and views may influence the research.
Social constructions are often studied in terms of discourses and narratives. As
the basic definitions, we see discourses as ways of viewing specific topics, while narratives are stories about particular cases. In 7 Chap. 3 we outline a broader conceptual framework on discourses and narratives, and in this and later chapters we
present examples of such social constructions and compare them with findings
from our own studies of various environmental topics.
Imagine that a research team of political ecologists arrives on Pandora along
with Jake Sully. Political ecology does
not contain a complete recipe on how
a study should be carried out.
Nevertheless, we would imagine that
the first thing political ecologists
would tend to do, would be to examine
the social constructions created by the
different groups of actors. It would be
crucial to reveal the discourse adhered
to by powerful actors such as the leaders of the colony. Thereafter, it would
be useful to investigate the discourse
of the Na’vi, as well as that of the
members of the research team led by
Grace Augustine. Furthermore, we can
imagine that political ecologists would
attempt to examine the species and
ecology on Pandora, the way of living
and livelihoods of the Na’vi, and the
consequences that the human colonization might have on the Na’vi and
their environment. Thus, such a study
would be anchored in both constructivist and realist elements.
Imagine Realism and Social Constructivism on Pandora
Chapter 1 · Political Ecology on Pandora